Author Speed Dating – Kristina Knight

February 28, 2017January 25, 2017 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

I love discovering new authors, so I wanted my blog to be a place where readers and my author pals could come together. Only we like to do this Speed-Dating style. Check out a new author and her work here every Wednesday, and if the spark is there, you’ll have a match.

This week’s guest: Kristina Knight

Kristi

HARLEQUIN SUPERROMANCE

15 Questions

1. If you were to make an appearance at Comic-Con, which Superhero costume would you be rocking?

Wonder Woman, naturally. (I could really use some super-cool bracelets, and that jet plane would mean no more long lines at the airport!)

2. At which time of day are you more productive as a writer, mornings or nights, and is caffeine a friend or foe?

As long as I have caffeine (ice-cold Coca-Cola, please), I can make any time of day work.

3. George Clooney or Bradley Cooper?

Although a little piece of my heart will always belong to Mr. Clooney, a bigger piece of my heart belongs to Bradley. Cooper all the way!

4. What is your biggest dream as an author?

I would love to someday hit one of the big lists, but, honestly, as long as people enjoy my books, I’m a happy camper!

5. Name a movie you’ve watched countless times but one you’ll still tune in to whenever it’s on cable.

“The Princess Bride.” I can quote it line-for-line, and I get sucked into it every time.

6. How many books have you published and in how many genres and sub-genres?

Thirteen, not counting various bundles of my series or boxed sets that I’ve put a book into. All are contemporary romance, but they run the gamut from cowboys to rockers, a billionaire or three…

7. Love It or List It or Modern Family?

Modern Family – love the banter and all the relationship dynamics. So much fun!

8. What is your favorite way to celebrate after you receive a new book contract or get a great review?

RadioMan and I always go to lunch, and then I pick a new bead for my book-charm-bracelet.

9. What is your best advice for new writers?

Just keep writing. There are experts who swear by this advertising or that blog tour, but the truth is that the next book is the best marketing you can have. So keep writing.

10. Extra-large French fries or a perfect square of dark chocolate?

Tough one! I’m going to go with French fries…mostly because I’m starving right now and that sounds like a good dinner option.

11. Which of your books gave you the most trouble, and what helped you make it to “the end”?

The book I just finished (the first book in my Slippery Rock series, which will be out later this year), took a couple of incarnations, and multiple character revisions…but in the end, I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

12. Do you have a music playlist for writing? If so, list some of your go-to artists.

I do! I make new playlists for every book/series. Right now I’ve got a lot of Dierks Bentley and Maren Morris in both of my playlists.

13. Virginia Woolf or Maya Angelou?

Maya. Her poetry is so lyrical, and I can hear her voice in my head as I read.

14. What do you do when you’re in the middle of a book and a new idea pops into your head?

I write it down, stick it in a folder, and get back to the book I’m working on.

15. Were there other authors who helped you along the way on your writer’s journey, and how did they make a difference for you?

My WordWrangler pals, and my local RWA chapter girls are all priceless for a variety of reasons – camaraderie, brainstorming help, butt-in-chair-ing, cheerleading, and picking up the pieces…I love them all.

***

Kristina book

Protecting the Quarterback

By Kristina Knight

“Jonas.” Her quiet voice snapped him back to the parking lot. “Why don’t you not take me home?”

His stomach muscles tightened as the words slipped from her lips in that slow drawl.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, and he knew he wouldn’t take her home, not just yet.

When he was behind the wheel, Brooks took his hand in hers and turned her face to watch the buildings passing by. The sun was beginning to set when he pulled into the parking lot of the condo where he’d spent the first few years of his contract with the team. Several other players lived there during the season, but the place was mostly a ghost town now. He parked in his designated spot and then somehow they were inside the glass-and-chrome decorated living room.

Memorabilia lined the walls and a low, white couch sat behind a glass-topped coffee table. He cringed. It was too perfect. Too planned out.

Too much like the other times he’d brought a woman here. Maybe he should have taken her to a hotel. There was still time, he could—

“Wow,” she said, drawing her index finger over the smooth surface of a table lined with photographs of him during games or at press conferences. God, he’d been such a schmuck with the decorating of this place. “This is not what I expected.”

“My interior designer has very specific tastes,” he said lamely. Definitely, definitely should have taken her anywhere but this condo.

She presented herself as the girl next door, but there was a little bit of siren in her now, which made his heartbeat kick up a notch. Brooks made her way around the room and he couldn’t take his eyes off her as she moved. Slowly and sinuously. Taking in everything around her. This was a different Brooks than the woman he thought he’d known over the past week. That woman was businesslike most of the time. The moments she let her guard down, like when she talked to the kids without that microphone in tow, though, she was irresistible. Impossible not to watch or wonder about. It was one of those moments that made him ask her out for dinner. That dinner had led them here.

Jonas met her at the kitchen counter, put his hands on her hips and turned her to face him.

“It was a date,” he said and bent his head so he could taste her lips. She was sweet, as he’d imagined so many times over the past few days. She wound her arms around his neck and slanted her mouth, giving him better access to the sweetness that was Brooks. He squeezed his hands around her waist and she shivered. “It was always a date,” he said again and began walking her down the hallway to the bedroom.

***

Protecting the Quarterback, a May 2016 release from Harlequin Superromance, may be purchased from these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Harlequin, iBooks and KOBO.

***

About Kristina

Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police–no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. Her career took her all over the United States, writing about everything from a serial killer’s capture to the National Finals Rodeo. Along the way, she found her very own Knight in Shining Cowboy Boots and an abiding love for romance novels. And just like the characters from her favorite books, she’s living her own happily ever after.

Kristina writes sassy contemporary romance novels; her books have appeared on Kindle Best Seller Lists. Stay in touch with Kristina through her website, www.kristinaknightauthor.com, or through these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and Google+.

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Author Speed Dating – MK Schiller

February 28, 2017January 18, 2017 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: MK Schiller

MK pic

15 Questions

1. If you were to make an appearance at Comic-Con, which Superhero costume would you be rocking?

It would be Wonder Woman. The girl is armed with a truth lasso and killer cuff bracelets. Bonus, she has a jet.

2. At which time of day are you more productive as a writer, mornings or nights, and is caffeine a friend or foe?

I think it really depends on what’s going on. I wish the moments I’m creative are scheduled. I’d say nights win though. Caffeine is a great pal, but red wine is a close friend.

3. George Clooney or Bradley Cooper?

Definitely, Bradley Cooper circa “Limitless” and “Silver Linings Playbook”. He always plays characters that make me laugh and feel.

4. What is your biggest dream as an author?

Well, if we’re dreaming big, I would love to see one of my books on the big screen.

5. Name a movie you’ve watched countless times but one you’ll still tune in to whenever it’s on cable.

“Forest Gump”.

6. How many books have you published and in how many genres and sub-genres?

It’s hard to believe, but 9 books with one on the way. They are all contemporary romances, but range with sub-genres of romantic suspense, new adult, and multicultural romance.

7. Love It or List It or Modern Family?

I’d have to go with Modern Family as it’s one of my family’s favorite shows.

8. What is your favorite way to celebrate after you receive a new book contract or get a great review?

Going out to dinner with my family and announcing it at our monthly Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America meeting.

9. What is your best advice for new writers?

Be encouraged by all praise and heed the criticism to help you become a better writer. But…do not let either define you.

10. Extra-large French fries or a perfect square of dark chocolate?

Chocolate every time, all of the time. Now, if we could make deep fried chocolate French fries, that would be something.

11. Which of your books gave you the most trouble, and what helped you make it to “the end”?

I struggled with the conflict and black moment in Where the Lotus Flowers Grow. It was almost too dark, especially for me. But in the end, I kept it because the whole theme of the book is that love can bloom in any dark corner. Just like the Lotus Flower.

12. Do you have a music playlist for writing? If so, list some of your go-to artists.

Absolutely. In fact, every book has a playlist and artists that helped me get through it. I love Indie artists like Hugo to classics like James Taylor. My playlist is super eclectic and frenzied just like my characters.

13.Virginia Woolf or Maya Angelou?

I’ve read both and enjoyed them, but I’d have to go with Maya Angelou. I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in high school and it really resonated with me. After all, the beautiful heroine used literature to make her stronger in the face of severe trauma.

14. What do you do when you’re in the middle of a book and a new idea pops into your head?

I turn my head and mutter, “squirrel.” It depends if I’m under contract, but I might start writing the new book if the idea makes my fingers twitch enough.

15. Were there other authors who helped you along the way on your writer’s journey, and how did they make a difference for you?

There are too many to name. I was inspired by amazing authors I had read, but also by those who I had met through my local writing group from our knowledgeable speakers to our members. These brave and lovely authors helped pave my writing journey.

***

MK Cover

Where the Lotus Flowers Grow

By MK Schiller

Steam from the bathroom swathed him as he stepped out, a towel looped low around his hips. His naked chest, revealed muscles chiseled to perfection. I’d seen him when he arrived, but I wasn’t paying attention. And now my attention would not go anywhere else. His damp hair, the color a mix of sun with flecks of sand, lay unruly against his head. His expression conveyed annoyance. I pivoted, my bum backing into the bureau. He narrowed his eyes. Green eyes? Brown? They were both.

They were neither.

“I’m waiting for an answer.”

My fingers clutched the book, digging into the hardback cover, holding it against my chest as if it could shield me from his voice, deep and husky. I shrank back farther, praying the floor would quake open and swallow me up.

His eyes shifted to my hands. He blinked, staring at the book. As much as my eyes were absorbing, my mouth refused to work. What could I possibly say to him? There were no excuses. I’d trespassed and, as a result, I’d be sacked.

“I’ve frightened you,” he said, his voice a shade softer. He held up his hand. “Wait.”

He picked up a few articles of clothing from the open suitcase on the bed, then looked back at me. “Stay.” He closed the bathroom door behind him, disappearing into the diminishing poufs of steam.

I should run. But my feet were stuck to the floor, even though my legs were shaking. For once, I was grateful the sari would hide that.

When he came out a few minutes later, he wore soft, faded jeans and a green rugby shirt. He stood a few feet away, but I could smell fresh soap and sweet mint radiating from his body.

He slapped his chest three times. “My name is Liam Montgomery.”

I continued to stare, dumbfounded. Was he introducing himself to me as if we lived on the same plane? I had found comfort in being a maid because the attention paid to me was on par with my paycheck. That was my preference. My choice. Perhaps a penance in a way. But now…I had all his attention and no idea what to do with it. He sighed, shaking his head with disappointment. “Lotus Girl, why would you pick up a book you can’t read?”

Lotus girl? Was he talking to me?

“Let’s try this again. Mera Nam, Liam Montgomery,” he said in poorly pronounced Hindi.

“You don’t speak Hindi either?” When I didn’t respond, he picked up his phone and pressed a few buttons. “So many languages in this country. Rest assured, I’ll find yours.”

As if rest were a possibility.

“Ah, here we are.” He repeated the introduction in Punjabi, Gujarthi, Marthati, Tamil, Bangali, and even Sanskrit. Each time, he looked at me with a hopeful expression. With my continued silence, he grew more disappointed. Somehow, his desperation to talk with me made the tension dissipate just as the steam had. Finally, he threw his phone on the bed.

He shook his head in resignation, offering me a self-deprecating smile.

“That’s all I got. I suppose we shall never speak.” He stared at the book again. I held it out to him with both hands. He stepped closer, his bare feet oddly beautiful. Later, I would wonder why I didn’t just lay the book back on the bureau. His hands, large with long fingers, gripped the other edge and stilled the wobbling tome. I tilted my chin, forcing myself to look at his face. I knew I’d regret the moment if I chose to…squint.

He nodded toward the book, but kept us at a distance. “It’s a shame, really. This is my favorite Dickens’s novel. It’s almost an autobiography.”

He tugged on it. I wouldn’t let go.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Why the hell I’m still talking to you when you can’t bloody-well respond, I have no idea.” He gestured to the door. “Either it’s heatstroke, or I’m going mad.”

“You’re wrong.”

He swallowed, his eyes widening. “I’m not going mad?”

“It’s not an autobiography. Dickens said his most autobiographical book was David Copperfield. Not Nicholas Nickleby.” I thought I’d said it in my head, but the way his jaw dropped made it clear I’d articulated the statement.

Liam smiled again, his expression a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

“She speaks. And what interesting things she has to say.”

***

Where the Lotus Flowers Grow, a September 2016 release from Lyrical Shine, an imprint from Kensington Publishing, may be purchased from these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.

***

About MK

MK Schiller was born a hopeless romantic in a hopelessly pragmatic world. She has a full-time life and two busy teenagers, but in the dark of night, she sits by the warm glow of her computer monitor and attempts to conjure up passionate heartwarming stories with plenty of humor. She hopes you enjoy her stories and always find The Happily Ever After in every endeavor.

Stay in touch with MK through her website, www.mkschillerauthor.com, her Facebook author page and Facebook profile, her Amazon Author Page, Twitter and Goodreads.

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Author Speed Dating – Melinda Leigh

February 28, 2017January 11, 2017 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: Melinda Leigh

Author Melinda Leigh

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

15 Questions

1. If you were to make an appearance at Comic-Con, which Superhero costume would you be rocking?

Wonder Woman!

2. At which time of day are you more productive as a writer, mornings or nights, and is caffeine a friend or foe?

Morning and coffee is my BFF.

3. George Clooney or Bradley Cooper?

Matt Damon.

4. What is your biggest dream as an author?

I’m already blessed with achieving more than I ever imagined. I support my family doing something I love. It doesn’t get any better than that.

5. Name a movie you’ve watched countless times but one you’ll still tune in to whenever it’s on cable.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

6. How many books have you published and in how many genres and sub-genres?

12 novels, 4 novellas, and 1 short story, all romantic suspense titles.

7. Love It or List It or Modern Family?

Modern Family.

8. What is your favorite way to celebrate after you receive a new book contract or get a great review?

I don’t celebrate either of those things. They’re just business. BUT when I finish a book, I usually take a couple of days off from writing and clean my office. It gets a little chaotic in there during the final few weeks. I like to start each new project with a clean desk.

9. What is your best advice for new writers?

Keep improving your craft. I see too many new authors rush into self-publishing before their book is ready. I rewrote She Can Run four times before I got an agent, and it went through another solid revision before she sold it.

10. Extra-large French fries or a perfect square of dark chocolate?

Chocolate, but I can’t stop at one square.

11. Which of your books gave you the most trouble, and what helped you make it to “the end”?

Frankly, they’re all difficult. Contracts, deadlines, and self-discipline get me to the end. There are no other options. Writing is my job. The bills need to be paid, and I have two kids in college. I don’t make money on unfinished manuscripts.

12. Do you have a music playlist for writing? If so, list some of your go-to artists.

I often use music to help me get in the right mood for a scene. I listen to everything from The Black Keys and Coldplay and to John Legend and Bruno Mars. It all depends on the emotion/tone I’m trying to set.

13. Virginia Woolf or Maya Angelou?

Maya Angelou.

14. What do you do when you’re in the middle of a book and a new idea pops into your head?

That would depend if the idea pertains to the current book or a different one. If it’s for the current work-in-process, I stop to evaluate it. Can’t pass up on a better plot twist! If the idea is for a new book, I write it down in detail and get back to work. I keep notes in my phone for just this reason.

15. Were there other authors who helped you along the way on your writer’s journey, and how did they make a difference for you?

Writing is a solitary vocation. Authors need peeps. I have so many I can’t possibly list them all, but two besties I turn to for motivation and support on an almost daily basis are Kendra Elliot and Rayna Vause.

***

MidnightObsession-21526-CV-FT-c2r3

Midnight Obsession

By Melinda Leigh

There wasn’t anyone around to hear her scream.

Her knees wobbled as she climbed out of the van. The cold punched through her coat and shook her to the marrow.

He handed her a flask. “Drink.”

Taking it, she tilted it to her lips and sipped. Whiskey burned a fiery path through the center of her body but didn’t manage to warm her.

“I have a script for you to read.”

Great. He wanted to role-play in the middle of an Arctic front. What was up with him? Her creep meter kept waving back and forth between He’s OK and He’s going to kill me.

“Can’t I read this inside the van?” She shivered, her teeth clacking like castanets.

“No. It has to be here. But I promise it won’t take long. Afterward, I’ll make sure you get home.”

She took the sheet of paper. The wind kicked up, fluttering the corners of the page. Cold tears blurred her vision. The man shined a flashlight on the page.

“Read it,” he demanded in a voice that sparked a hot prick of renewed fear in the pit of her belly.

This was wrong. All wrong. Without lifting her head, she surveyed the area again, but the piles of dirt all around the site blocked the view. There was no one around. She was on her own.

Her gaze dropped to the page. The three short, strange sentences sealed her fate.

This was it then. The end, and she’d meet it alone and cold. Made perfect sense. That was how she’d spent most of her life.

Her voice trembled. “I see my master in paradise. He calls to me. Take me to him.”

His next moves were smooth and sure. He stepped around her. One hand grabbed her hair and pulled her head back, exposing her throat. Her scalp stung. A flash of metal shone in the corner of her eye. She knew what it was and what was about to happen.

Her instincts told her to run, but resignation and terror held her feet in place, like hands gripping her ankles. Panic raced through her veins, her heart beating so fast and hard it felt as if it would crack through her ribs, burst from her body, and fly away. Tears slid down her cheeks.

The slice was mercifully quick. She barely felt the cut of the blade or the gush of her blood onto the white snow at her feet. The liquid flooded her body with warmth.

But with every beat of her pulse, her heart squeezed more life from her body. Every beat of her heart brought her closer to death. Weaker. More distant. Distress slid away as her body drained.

She fell to her knees. Dropping to the ground behind her, he grasped her shoulders. He pulled her back to his chest, supporting her against his body. His hand stroked her hair away from her face, his touch loving.

Reverent.

As her vision dimmed, she sagged sideways. He cradled her in his arms. Leaning over her, he pressed his forehead to her temple and whispered, “You are home.”

***

MIDNIGHT OBSESSION, a January 2017 release from Montlake Romance, may be purchased from these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.

***

About Melinda

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker. A life-long lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity while raising her kids. Over the next few years, she learned a few things about writing a book. The process was much more fun than analyzing financial statements, and she decided to turn her hobby into a career. Melinda’s debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She is a RITA® Award Finalist and has earned three Daphne du Maurier Award nominations, two Silver Falchion Awards, and two Golden Leaf Awards. Melinda’s eighteen romantic suspense titles have sold 2.5 million copies.

Melinda holds a 2nd degree belt in Kenpo Karate. She’s dabbled in Arnis stick fighting, studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and taught women’s self-defense. She lives in a messy house in the suburbs with her husband, two kids, a couple of shelter dogs and two rescue cats who clearly run the show. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination. Find out more about Melinda by visiting melindaleigh.com, and stay in touch through Facebook and Twitter.

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Author Speed Dating – Rosanne Bittner

February 28, 2017January 4, 2017 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: Rosanne Bittner

15 Questions

1. If you were to make an appearance at Comic-Con, which Superhero costume would you be rocking?

Sorry, but I watch very, very little TV. I don’t know what Comic-Con is, but if I wore a superhero costume (actually I hate dressing up in costumes and never do it – ever) – but if I had to, I would probably be Catwoman.

2. At which time of day are you more productive as a writer, mornings or nights, and is caffeine a friend or foe?

I am most productive in the wee hours of the morning – like 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. Caffeine is my best friend. I probably drink too much coffee. I am not a heavy sleeper and never have been. Four to five hours is enough for me, and I’m always up by 5 or 6 a.m. even if I go to bed at 4 a.m. At 72, I have too many things I want to do in this life and too many books I still want to write to waste my time sleeping.

3. George Clooney or Bradley Cooper?

Bradley Cooper in a New York minute. He’s gorgeous, and he seems like an ordinary man. And his acting in American Sniper was phenomenal.

4. What is your biggest dream as an author?

My biggest dream as an author has already been realized – to actually make a living writing and to write many, many books. I’m up to #65. My only other dream would be to have a movie made out of one of my books.

5. Name a movie you’ve watched countless times but one you’ll still tune in to whenever it’s on cable.

Oh, my gosh, there is more than one movie I watch over and over and never get tired of it. The Shootist is one, for so many reasons. It was John Wayne’s last movie, and just like the character, he, too, was dying of cancer. And it reminds me of how my outlaw character would want to die if he knew he was already dying. Jake Harkner would have to go down with guns blazing. I always ball my eyes out at the end of The Shootist. How very fitting it was for John Wayne. I also love Pale Rider with Clint Eastwood, and The Big Country with Gregory Peck – and my favorite comedy would have to be Rat Race. I laugh ’til I cry. I could name so many more, probably at least 25.

6. How many books have you published and in how many genres and sub-genres?

My one and only genre is historical romance – I love, love, love American history and the magnificent western landscape. My Christmas story coming in October will be book #65, and I have many more I want to write.

7. Love It or List It or Modern Family?

Again – I don’t watch TV. I don’t know what Love It or List It is. I have seen some episodes of Modern Family and I loved it, so I’d have to say Modern Family.

8. What is your favorite way to celebrate after you receive a new book contract or get a great review?

My favorite way to celebrate after signing a new contract? I sit down and start writing. By the time I sign the contract, the book it is for is usually already half written, and I’m relieved it’s truly a done deal because I love every story I write and am always thrilled it will finally be published. I “live” in my stories, and my greatest pleasure is being with my characters as I write. I’m not outwardly effusive, and I don’t drink, so I just get busy writing.

9. What is your best advice for new writers?

My best advice for new writers – WRITE WHAT YOU LOVE!!! DO NOT WRITE FOR THE MARKET. And if you are a born writer, you will never struggle with ideas and you will never look at writing as work … and you will never come up with excuses as to why you don’t have time to write.

10. Extra-large French fries or a perfect square of dark chocolate?

A perfect square of dark, dark chocolate – at least 75% cacao.

11. Which of your books gave you the most trouble, and what helped you make it to “the end”?

I never have trouble finishing a book. I start a story (no outline) and just let things happen. It almost always works out. I guess if I had to pick one that gave me trouble it would be WHERE HEAVEN BEGINS because the hero had to have a redeeming moment that turned his life around at the end of the book. (It was an inspirational story.) All the way through the story I had no idea what that redeeming moment would be or how it would happen. I just trusted that it would come to me when I reached that point, and it did. God was guiding me.

12. Do you have a music playlist for writing? If so, list some of your go-to artists.

Oh, yes, I definitely have a music playlist. Too many artists and themes to list. It depends on how I picture the characters and what the theme of the story is. I have several albums (in my iPhone of course) from the great westerns of the past, and I listen to those a lot. I sit at the computer with earphones on to drown out the TV while I write – or, of course, I write deep in the night when it’s nice and quiet. My favorite would have to be the theme from The Big Country.

13. Virginia Woolf or Maya Angelou?

Actually, neither one.

14. What do you do when you’re in the middle of a book and a new idea pops into your head?

If a new idea for another story pops into my head while I’m working on a book, I simply create a new document and record the idea so I don’t lose it. Sometimes I even give it a title. Believe me, this happens a lot. I have trouble shutting off my brain. New ideas just keep coming. And, by the way, I never start a book without a title. For some reason, I have to settle on a title before I can write the story.

15. Were there other authors who helped you along the way on your writer’s journey, and how did they make a difference for you?

I need no inspiration from other authors to sit down and write – and when I started writing back in 1979, I didn’t know any other authors. I wrote about 12 books before I even met another published author. There were no writers’ groups like Romance Writers of America – no help or guidance of any kind. I wrote on a manual typewriter and just picked out publishers who published the kind of books I wrote and started sending out my manuscripts. I had probably at least 70 rejections and had written 9 books before I finally sold one. It was that 9th book that sold, and the publisher asked if I could turn it into a series of 4 books and I said “yes” with absolutely no idea what I would do. It ended up becoming my 7-book Savage Destiny series, which to this day are still my best-selling books even though they are over 30 years old!!

***

LOVE'S SWEET REVENGE COVER

Love’s Sweet Revenge

By Rosanne Bittner

[Note: Here Jake is all man and “there” for his wife. This has nothing to do with sex. This is a very serious moment, as something terrible has happened to Randy and Jake needs to be strong for her. Most of their married life it’s been Randy who is strong for Jake because he is an emotionally unstable man who is often visited by his dark past and lives on the edge of sanity and insanity because of his incredibly cruel childhood. Now Randy needs him in a way she’s never needed him before, and he has to stay right with her on this and see her through it. Jake loves this woman so much that he rises above his own needs to be the strong, supportive husband she needs right now.]

He held her tighter. “Who do you belong to?”

She jerked in a sob. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do,” he said softly. “Say it.”

She hugged him tighter around the neck. “You.”

“Say my name, Randy. Who do you belong to?”

She curled so tightly against him it was as though she wanted to crawl inside him. “Jake Harkner,” she whispered.

“You bet. Nothing has changed that, and nothing ever will.”

“Tell me you’re not in trouble, Jake.”

“I’m not in trouble.”

“You won’t go away?”

“Never.”

“No one is coming to get you?”

“No one’s coming to get me.”

“I was always scared you’d … never come back … back in Oklahoma. Don’t take that job, Jake … that ranger job. I don’t want you to go away.”

“I’m not going anywhere.

“Don’t let go. I love … being in your arms.

“And that’s where you are right now.”

“I knew you’d come.”

“I’d walk through the fires of hell for you.”

***

LOVE’S SWEET REVENGE, published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, may be purchased from these and other retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.

***

About Rosanne

USA TODAY best-seller Rosanne Bittner has been writing almost 40 years. SWEET PRAIRIE PASSION, her very first book, was published in 1982. That was 66 books ago, and she promises more to come! Rosanne’s first love is American history, especially the Old West and Native Americans. In March, 2017, a new Native American romance by Rosanne, CAPTURE MY HEART, will be published in print and e-book by Amazon. Rosanne writes well-researched books that have won numerous awards, including the prestigious WILLA award from Women Writing the West. She was named ”Queen of Western Romance,” by Romantic Times Reviews, who nominated her second “Outlaw” book, DO NOT FORSAKE ME, for “Best Western Romance for 2015”. Nearly all of her novels have garnered great reviews by Publishers Weekly.

Rosanne belongs to several writers’ groups and historical societies. She and her husband, Larry, have been married almost 51 years. Together they have traveled the west for over 40 years, mostly for research for Rosanne’s stories. Her newest novel, LOVE’S SWEET REVENGE, is the third book in her acclaimed “Outlaw” series, with a fourth book coming in September, 2017, THE LAST OUTLAW. In October, her Christmas story, “A Chick-A-Dee Christmas,” was published in an anthology called CHRISTMAS IN A COWBOY’S ARMS.

Learn more about Rosanne through her website, www.rosannebittner.com, and blog, www.rosannebittner.blogspot.com, and stay in touch with her by email or through these social media channels: Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.

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Author Speed Dating – Janet Lee Nye

February 28, 2017December 28, 2016 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: Janet Lee Nye

Janet pic

HarlequinSuperromance2

15 Questions

1. Which character in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is your favorite, and what does that say about you?

Bumble, post dental surgery, all roar, no bite. Tall and can reach things.

2. What are some of things you do to work your way through a plot problem?

See above, roar a lot. Boring answer: on the treadmill.

3. Name your favorite author who writes in a genre that you never write.

Neil Gaiman.

4. Cherry cordials or candy canes?

Candy canes, licked down to a dangerously sharp point.

5. How many full manuscripts did you have to write before you were first published?

Oh, lordy. [*pulls off socks so I can use toes for this count*] If I count all the times I took an existing manuscript and rewrote it (change a romantic suspense into a contemporary), the total is six. [*puts socks back on*]

6. In 10 words or less, give your best tip for aspiring authors.

The closer you get, the bigger the disappointments. Don’t quit.

7. Lifetime Christmas movies. Yea or nay?

Nay.

8. What was the lowest point in your writing career, and how did you recover from it?

2014. I missed being a finalist in the Golden Hearts by one point, and there were only two finalists in my category. I was considering quitting but went to RWA Nationals and my tribe kicked my butt back into the game. [Note from Dana: The Golden Heart Award, sponsored by Romance Writers of America, is the premier contest for unpublished romance writers.]

9. Are you traditionally published, self-published or a “hybrid” author, and why did you choose that path?

Traditionally published. Mostly because I’m not computer or marketing savvy enough to properly self-publish.

10. “O Holy Night” (Josh Groban version) or “White Christmas” (Bing Crosby version)?

I’m more of a “Holly Jolly Christmas” kind of girl.

11. Which character from one of your own books do you wish you were more like?

I think I’d have to say Lena Reyes, Sadie’s best friend in Spying on the Boss. She has her own book coming out in April. She is strong, smart, sassy and fierce when it comes to family and friends.

12. What is your strategy for writing over the holidays?

Depends. I’m a nurse, so I work on holidays. If I’m not working at the hospital, I may squeeze in a few words. We aren’t big party people so our holidays tend to be rather low-key.

13. Of all the delightful treats available during the holiday season, which one would you prefer to hide in a closet so you don’t have to share it with anyone?

Peppermint bark.

14. Do you belong to a critique group, and how has that membership affected your writing?

No. I was part of a writer’s group many years ago, but I was the only romance writer there, so I felt pushed to be “literary”, and it hurt my writing. Now, I have my Fella give me feedback (he is a writer also).

15. What is your usual New Year’s Resolution, and how quickly do you usually break it?

Which one? Go to the gym at least four times a week? Drink more water? Eat more healthfully? Start dressing like a grown up? Don’t wear pajamas all day?

***

Boss on Notice

By Janet Lee Nye

“Hey, neighbor,” Josh called.

She tried not to look, but how could she not? He was too good looking. That black curly hair and the blue eyes. His shoulders, his chest, his arms…he was built but he didn’t try to show it off by wearing a shirt two sizes too small for his body. She bit her bottom lip, felt it slip back into her mouth as she watched him. Those jeans. Levi’s. Straight forward working man’s jeans. Nothing fancy. She felt warm in all the wrong places.

“Hi,” she said.

Short, sweet, to the point. Get out of here before he offers you a ride. She pushed the stroller but he met her at the sidewalk. He squatted to look at Ian.

“Hey, little man. What big adventure are you off to today? Going to break in to a few more houses?”

“Go! Go! Go!” Ian shouted back.

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Sorry,” she said. “Shouting seems to be the only volume he has these days.”

He stood and smiled at her. “You guys always seem to be on the go.”

“Yep. That’s us. Busy, busy, busy.”

He looked at her. Then at the duffels. Then at the street. He rubbed his jaw, the stubble there making a faint scratching noise that went straight through her. She squared her shoulders.

“Yeah. I should get back to work.”

Work. Whoa. Wait. What was it that lady had told her on the phone? He was here setting up a cleaning business. She could clean.

“You’re hiring?”

He gave her a look. A half smile. “Yeah, but…”

“Can I apply? I don’t have any experience other than cleaning my own house. But I’m a fast learner. And I’m not afraid of hard work.”

“Mickie,” he said, cutting off her babble.

“What?”

“We are an all-male cleaning company. That’s our gimmick. Good looking guys cleaning your house.”

“Oh.” She was too disappointed to say anything else.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Nothing ventured and all. Well, I should get going.”

She could feel him watching her as she navigated down the sidewalk to the street. All male. Weren’t there, like, discrimination laws about stuff like that? She tried to get angry about it but she couldn’t seem to think around the echoes of the scrape of his fingers against the stubble. Her own fingers twitched on the stroller handles. She’d like to run a finger over that stubble.

*******

Boss on Notice, an installment in The Cleaning Crew miniseries, may be purchased through these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Harlequin and Books-A-Million.

***

About Janet

Janet Lee Nye is a writer by day and a neonatal nurse by night. She lives in Charleston, SC, with her fella and her felines. She spends too much time on Twitter and too little time on housework and has no plans to remedy this.

Stay in touch with Janet through her website, www.janetleenye.com or through these social-media channels: Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about Janet and her fellow Harlequin Superromance authors on the Superromance Facebook Page or the Superromance Authors Blog, www.superauthors.com.

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Author Speed Dating – Laurie Kuna

February 28, 2017December 21, 2016 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: Laurie Kuna

Laurie Kuna pic

15 Questions

1. Which character in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is your favorite, and what does that say about you?

An elf, because I’m an English teacher and an elf is a subordinate “Claus.”

2. What are some of things you do to work your way through a plot problem?

Drink…Kidding. Do something else, like walk on the treadmill. My subconscious mind usually solves the plot problem.

3. Name your favorite author who writes in a genre that you never write.

Sarah Paretsky—1^st person detective stories (VI Warshawski).

4. Cherry cordials or candy canes?

No contest. Cherry cordials.

5. How many full manuscripts did you have to write before you were first published?

One.

6. In 10 words or less, give your best tip for aspiring authors.

Ignore non-constructive criticism and complete adulation. Neither helps you.

7. Lifetime Christmas movies. Yea or nay?

Yea and nay! Depends on content.

8. What was the lowest point in your writing career, and how did you recover from it?

I’ll let you know when I’ve recovered.

9. Are you traditionally published, self-published or a “hybrid” author, and why did you choose that path?

Traditionally. It chose me more than anything, as I was line editing for ImaJinn and sent a manuscript in to its publisher, Linda Kichline. She bought it, and three more of my titles.

10. “O Holy Night” (Josh Groban version) or “White Christmas” (Bing Crosby version)?

Der Bingle, although Groban’s got a great voice.

11. Which character from one of your own books do you wish you were more like?

Endora Bast, as she’s a shape-shifting witch who kicks ass.

12. What is your strategy for writing over the holidays?

Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard.

13. Of all the delightful treats available during the holiday season, which one would you prefer to hide in a closet so you don’t have to share it with anyone?

The cherry cordials from Question #4.

14. Do you belong to a critique group, and how has that membership affected your writing?

Yes! We’re really a family more than a critique group, so the support I’ve received—both personally and professionally—has kept me writing when I know I’d have called it quits long ago without them.

15. What is your usual New Year’s Resolution, and how quickly do you usually break it?

Stop swearing…Just as long as it takes for one of my favorite sports teams—the Spartans, the Red Wings, or the Lions—to do something stupid. Or the officials in their games to do the same.

***

9781933417370.indd

Fate’s Fortune

By Laurie Carroll

“I’ve a business proposition for you. Come to my ship, and we’ll discuss it over a bottle of port.”

Although Cal could not be overheard, he leaned close and said in Meg’s ear, “If he sailed all the way out here seeking you, he’s got more than common business in mind.”

And used otherworldly means to find me. “We can’t know for sure until we hear his proposal.” Meg raised her voice so it would carry to Lady Luck. “As my crew has a large stake in whatever transaction you’re offering, we can discuss the terms right here.”

“There”s a bold piece,” Cooper muttered as he stood at Hugh’s elbow. “You’d think she had the advantage, the way she acts.”

Hugh grinned, genuine admiration in his eyes. “That’s what makes her so good at what she does, Coop.” Putting both hands on his quarterdeck rail, he leaned toward the Rosalind. “Very well. Surrender your ship, your crew and your cargo. And return to Charles Town with me.”

Although not completely surprised that he wanted to take her back to the Carolinas, his outrageous conditions shocked Meg to her core. Nevertheless, she showed no emotion. Widening her stance, she crossed her arms over her chest and raised her chin. “My ship is badly damaged and many of my crew injured. At this time, I carry no cargo.”

“Nevertheless, those are my terms.”

“I’m afraid they’re completely unacceptable.” Anger resonated in her voice when she added, “We’ll fight to the death before allowing anyone to drag us back to a Royal port to hang.”

Now Hugh’s expression cooled. “I’m willing to make a counter offer.”

The offer you’d intended all along, you mean. Wanting my crew’s surrender wasn’t in your plans. She cocked a brow, though Hugh was likely too far away to see the gesture. “And that is?”

“You’re known to have an excellent blade, possibly the best in the New World.”

The sudden dread of certainty crept into Meg’s mind. “I’ve heard it said of me,” she replied flatly.

“Then here’s my proposition. Prove your ability by dueling me. If I win, you return to Charles Town with me, and your crew goes free.”

Something about Hugh’s words thrilled her beyond belief. But pride and her sense of duty to her men quelled the thrill. “And if I win?”

Hugh laughed arrogantly, but to Meg’s ears, it was not genuine.

“Then do what you wish with my ship and crew, for I’ll be dead.”

Annoyance blasted through her. You know full well this will never go that far between us. But I’m of a mind to call your bluff. “Then

make your peace with God, Captain Stevens.”

Hugh’s lips flattened, but he said casually, “Put your crew ashore and bring your first mate and pilot with you. We’ll fight here on the

Lady.”

Meg felt Cal and Elijah go tense beside her. “I’ve injured men who can’t be moved.”

“Then I’ll send some of mine to see they’re comfortable in their berths.”

“I’ve one requirement of my own,” Meg stated, all the arrogance of command she could muster in her tone. “My crew goes free, no matter who wins.”

Turning to Cal, she whispered, “Don’t argue with me over this. I can’t risk you and the men.”

“However he found us, he’s here only for you.” Cal turned his back on Hugh’s ship as he added, “We were on our way back to Charles Town so you could see him. Do you really want to fight him now?”

“No.” Meg sighed. “If he hadn’t hunted us down with the express intent of taking me back with him, I’d go willingly. But I don’t take kindly to ultimatums. And I don’t think he really expects me to.”

Elijah gently squeezed Meg’s forearm. “Be careful.”

She winked at her pilot. “Maybe I won’t fight too hard.”

“Be serious, Meg,” Cal hissed under his breath, leaning in from her other side. “If Stevens bests you, he’ll likely…” His voice trailed off and he looked away.

Meg could feel her eyes blazing. She lifted her chin. “What, Cal? Bed me? You didn’t seem particularly worried about that in Charles Town.”

He had the grace to blush, but his eyes were hot when he looked up at her. “You weren’t injured then and could defend yourself if you chose to. Right now, you’re not fit, and I . . . ” Fear and anger held equal sway in Cal’s expression. “I just don’t want him to take advantage of you.”

“He challenged me. I can’t refuse.” Seeing her friends’ fear, she stated firmly, “Rest assured, anything that happens between us will be on my terms or not at all.”

***

Fate’s Fortune may be purchased from these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and ImaJinn Books.

***

About Laurie

Laurie Kuna writes historical and contemporary paranormal romance for ImaJinn/BellBridgeBooks, the historicals as Laurie Carroll and the contemporaries as Laurie C. Kuna. She taught high school English for 29 years and now uses those skills to edit professionally. A Golden Heart finalist, she published that manuscript as her first book, A War of Hearts. She loves hearing from fans and can be reached through her website, www.lauriecarroll-kuna.com, through her Facebook author page or by email at lauriekuna@gmail.com.

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Author Speed Dating – Alyssa Alexander

February 28, 2017December 14, 2016 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: Alyssa Alexander

15 Questions

1.Which character in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is your favorite, and what does that say about you?

The Abominable Snowman, Bumble. Poor thing has no teeth at the end, but he does the whole lemon out of lemonade thing and is quite happy when all is said and done…Who knows what says about me! LOL!

2. What are some of things you do to work your way through a plot problem?

Shower. Meditate. Wine. Hash it out with CPs. Wash dishes (this seems to work best!)

3. Name your favorite author who writes in a genre that you never write.

Tough one. Um…I don’t know!

4. Cherry cordials or candy canes?

Candy canes. Because yuk on cherry cordials. *shudder*

5. How many full manuscripts did you have to write before you were first published?

Trick question! 6 full drafts of one manuscript in 6 years, but it was a full rewrite each time so it was like 6 books. The “second” book, I cut out 100 pages at one point and did serious rewrites—probably the equivalent to 2 books. So, technically, 2 books, but in reality, 8 books. And, are you confused yet?

6. In 10 words or less, give your best tip for aspiring authors.

Write. Dream. Write. Ignore inner critic. Write. Trust Yourself. Write. Find good CPs. Write some more. [Editor’s Note: That’s 10 plus some bonus words. :)]

7. Lifetime Christmas movies. Yea or nay?

Yea!

8. What was the lowest point in your writing career, and how did you recover from it?

I’ve had a few low points for different reasons—but the recovery is always the same. Keep on keeping on. BICHOK. Bottom In Chair, Hands On Keyboard. Fight for what I want! I’ve had people tell me I couldn’t do be an author for various reasons—I’ve never believed. Or, at least, not for long. 🙂

9. Are you traditionally published, self-published or a “hybrid” author, and why did you choose that path?

Traditional, mostly because I worked full-time and didn’t want to figure out how to go it alone!

10. “O Holy Night” (Josh Groban version) or “White Christmas” (Bing Crosby version)?

“O Holy Night”, ANY version. Though I might have crush on Bing’s voice.

11. Which character from one of your own books do you wish you were more like?

Tough one. Grace, because she’s got a steady coolness I can’t dredge up. I’m much more like Lilias from In Bed With A Spy, or Vivienne from my upcoming release from Entangled—they don’t hesitate to kick a$$. I have a temper! Usually well buried, but when it comes out…whoo boy. Run. But Grace has something softer about her that I wish I could find in myself.

12. What is your strategy for writing over the holidays?

Same as always… BICHOK. It’s actually easier to write over the holidays because I have more free time!

13. Of all the delightful treats available during the holiday season, which one would you prefer to hide in a closet so you don’t have to share it with anyone?

Do they serve potato chips at the holidays? Because I’ve actually hidden in my pantry so I could eat cheddar and sour cream chips and not have to share. I might have also been in recovery after a Terrible Twos tantrum.

14. Do you belong to a critique group, and how has that membership affected your writing?

Not a formal critique group, but a few friends who trade manuscripts back and forth…It’s been invaluable. Absolutely invaluable. We were at the same points of our career, which meant we discussed craft, too, and though I still have so much to learn, I wouldn’t know what I do know without them!

15. What is your usual New Year’s Resolution, and how quickly do you usually break it?

Lose weight, naturally! Some years I do, some years I don’t. But I recently decided not to make that resolution. My 2017 resolutions are: Be happy. Be healthy. Be strong. Love on my family. Forgive myself for mistakes, but always persevere. Go to the gym not because I want to lose weight, but because I want to be a healthier version of me…I think that about covers it!

***

In Bed With a Spy

By Alyssa Alexander

It didn’t seem possible a person could be abducted from a London townhouse in the middle of a crowded ball. But it had happened.

Now here she was, sitting in Angelstone’s carriage, with the faint glow of the lamps highlighting his inflexible jaw and cutting cheekbones. All lean legs and broad shoulders, he filled the vehicle’s interior. In the partial light, with his unreadable gaze and his unruly queue of hair, he looked much more dangerous than a fallen angel.

“Angelstone.”

“Mrs. Fairchild.” The words were clipped. No seductive purr, no sensual smile from those lips. Lips that had kissed her senseless and reminded her she was a woman with needs and desires. Even now, she could she taste him. Rich brandy and wild heat.

Embarrassment washed through her. She’d been forward and shameless, and look where she found herself. Hands bound and trapped in a man’s carriage, destined for parts unknown and heaven knew what treatment.

“I demand to be released.”

“No.”

“Why am I here?” she fired back.

“I think you are quite aware.” He watched her steadily as he pulled off first one glove, then the other and stuffed them in his pocket. It was an unpardonably rude gesture for a gentleman. Obviously, he was not a gentleman.

He was close enough she could kick him. But she wouldn’t be able to open the carriage door quickly with her hands bound. And he had the medallion. The final gift from her husband, one he gave her with his last breath.

She refused to leave without it.

“The medallion is mine,” she said.

“Is it? Interesting.” The conversational tone of his words was oddly frightening. “Well, now the medallion is mine.” Propping his elbows on his knees, he leaned forward. He filled the space between them until his face was only a foot from hers.

The instinct to shrink into the seat was overwhelming.

So she leaned forward to meet him. And smiled. Slowly. “Give me”—she angled her head insolently—“the medallion.”

***

In Bed With a Spy may be purchased from these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.

***

About Alyssa

Alyssa Alexander is an award-winning author who survives the cold Michigan winters by penning romance novels that always include a bit of adventure. Her debut release, The Smuggler Wore Silk, was awarded 4.5 Stars and Top Pick by Romantic Times and nominated for the RT 2014 Best First Historical and the 2015 Best First Book RITA. Her second book, In Bed With a Spy received a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly and 4.5 Stars and Top Pick from Romantic times. She has been called a “talented newcomer” and “a rising star you won’t want to miss.”

Connect with Alyssa through her website at www.alyssa-alexander.com or through these social media channels: Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest and Twitter.

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Author Speed Dating – Donna Alward

February 28, 2017December 7, 2016 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: Donna Alward

Donna Alward pic

15 Questions

1. Which character in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is your favorite, and what does that say about you?

Mrs. Claus. Because I feed people. “Eat. Eat. EAT.”

2. What are some of things you do to work your way through a plot problem?

Walk away and let my brain come up with it when I’m thinking about something else. Or I nag my inner circle, disregard their ideas, and go with my own anyway.

3. Name your favorite author who writes in a genre that you never write.

More than one…but Jennifer Robson, Mary Balogh, Suzie Enoch, Julie Ann Long. LOVE historical romance, particularly WWI and WWII and Regencies.

4. Cherry cordials or candy canes?

Candy Canes.

5. How many full manuscripts did you have to write before you were first published?

Nine – I sold my 10^th.

6. In 10 words or less, give your best tip for aspiring authors.

Write, write, write, and take time to learn your craft.

7. Lifetime Christmas movies. Yea or nay?

Sometimes yes. But only if I feel like weeping.

8. What was the lowest point in your writing career, and how did you recover from it?

Being unable to write due to depression. I figured out I needed to get better first and hoped my creativity would rebound. It did. 🙂 But it was a rough 2 years.

9. Are you traditionally published, self-published or a “hybrid” author, and why did you choose that path?

Mostly traditional. I forgave myself for not enjoying the indie process and haven’t looked back. People have to do what’s right for them and what keeps them inspired and fulfilled.

10. “O Holy Night” (Josh Groban version) or “White Christmas” (Bing Crosby version)?

“White Christmas”. I love Josh, but classic Bing…the only thing better is Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song”.

11. Which character from one of your own books do you wish you were more like?

Willow from Someone To Love (coming in March). She’s so zen. Plus way more bendy than I am (yoga).

12. What is your strategy for writing over the holidays?

Not to. 🙂

13. Of all the delightful treats available during the holiday season, which one would you prefer to hide in a closet so you don’t have to share it with anyone?

My mother-in-law’s fruitcake. I know! Fruitcake? But it’s soooo good.

14. Do you belong to a critique group, and how has that membership affected your writing?

Not a crit group per se, but a small group of writers. My writing and my life are so much richer for having them be a part of it.

15. What is your usual New Year’s Resolution, and how quickly do you usually break it?

I gave up on resolutions. I can only promise to do better so many times before I just think…never mind. Carry on and do the best you can. 🙂

***

MustBeChristmas

It Must Be Christmas

“Christmas at Seashell Cottage”

By Donna Alward

Charlie Yang had never considered herself much of a joiner. So it went without saying that she was surprised to find herself in the middle of setting up a nativity scene in front of the Jewell Cove church, stuffing scratchy straw into a crudely constructed manger. They’d had an early snow, and the layer of white covering the ground and the branches of trees and shrubbery added to the feeling of holiday spirit that had taken over since Thanksgiving.

Like a well-oiled machine, Gloria Henderson and her army of church ladies had taken charge of the volunteers and had assigned jobs to everyone. The men were tasked with anything requiring a ladder and heavy lifting—including lugging three wise men, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and sheep and every last bit of the nativity to the front yard. Right now Bill—Charlie had forgotten his last name—from the service station was positioning the figures in the proper places, which were the exact same spots they occupied each and every year, apparently. Charlie gave a dry chuckle. You could always count on small towns, and Jewell Cove, Maine, was no different. It was practically steeped in saltwater traditions.

Still, it stung a little that the committee had taken one look at Charlie’s attempt at the red-and-green velvet bows and suggested she might be better suited to helping with something else. She was a doctor, for heaven’s sake. She could suture a wound and leave barely a trace of a scar. Surely her bows weren’t that bad . . .

She’d been sent off to the front of the church with specific instructions: set up the manger, uncoil and string the lights, and put Baby Jesus in place. Charlie huffed. She’d been number three in her graduating class from med school. She could set up a nativity scene with one hand tied behind her back. She shivered against the cold, zipped her puffy jacket up the last three inches, and wished she’d thought to wear a hat to keep her ears warm.

“Manger, check.” She wrestled the wooden structure into position by inches until it was in the middle of the nativity. “Straw, check.” She took off her gloves for a minute and padded the bottom of the manger with a small brick of synthetic straw, pulling the pieces apart and fluffing them up. As soon as it was done, she hurried to put her gloves back on. “Now for Baby Jesus.” Charlie looked around at the boxes of Christmas decorations that surrounded her. “Aha! Baby Jesus, check!” She retrieved a doll from a box, already wrapped and safety-pinned into swaddling clothes, and stared down at the straw padding the bottom of the crude manger. “This doesn’t feel right,” she murmured to the doll, whose eyes were closed. She looked in the box for a blanket or fabric of some sort. “I can’t just put you down on the prickly straw. Surely the new Messiah deserves something softer to lie on.”

After a few minutes of digging through the boxes for something that might suit, Charlie sighed. “Well, Baby Jesus, we’ll just have to wait to put you in your manger until I can think of something to use to cover the straw. Until then, I need to get these lights untangled.”

She sat down on the cold, wooden platform the church had set up to house the nativity scene. It was a lonely, solitary task and she found herself carrying on a one-way conversation with the doll just to break the silence. “I have skills, Baby Jesus. Specific skills. Skills that I should be using right now with my patients. Not sitting in the cold unraveling tangled lights.” She sighed in frustration.

God, she was talking to a doll. A doll who was, at this moment, staring at her with unseeing, unblinking eyes. It was a little bit creepy, so she turned her attention back to the task at hand, working away at a stubborn knot, muttering to herself. Once again the gloves came off; there was no way she could straighten the knotted wires with the material in the way. She blew on her fingers and started again.

“You know,” she continued, “when I agreed to help out, I’d thought it would be a good chance be a part of the community. Outside of work, I mean. And . . . here I am alone. As usual.”

Charlie cursed under her breath as the knot let go only to reveal another. A burst of laughter drew her attention away for a moment, and she watched as a couple strolled along the sidewalk holding hands.

“Wanna hear something stupid, Baby Jesus? The closest thing to a romantic relationship I have right now is an infatuation with the man who works on the docks. You know?” She paused, studying the glassy eyes of the doll next to her. “Of course you don’t know. You’re a doll. And the Savior of all mankind, right? You have bigger fish to fry than my nonexistent love life.” She laughed to herself. “I’m pathetic. But let me tell you, that man is hot. Tall, dark, and rugged.” In her mind she could picture the look of him, long legs and broad shoulders, his strength evident even beneath work pants and the navy jacket he typically wore. She sighed. “I don’t even know his name. How dumb is that?”

“Um, excuse me, but who are you talking to?”

She jumped at the sound of a deep voice behind her, a muted squeak bursting from her mouth, then spun around to find a giant of a man standing there, feet planted, arms crossed, and an amused expression on his face. Not just any man. The man.

Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. “Baby Jesus?” she suggested weakly. Busted talking to a doll. She felt about three years old.

He chuckled. “Really?” He nodded at the bundle in her arms. “What were you going to do? Brain me with him?”

What? It took a few seconds before she realized that she’d grabbed the doll like a weapon and was currently holding it like she was a quarterback ready to go long. Charlie looked down at the doll’s face and then tucked it more securely in her arms. “You startled me, that’s all,” she replied, emitting a breathy laugh. Holy crap. From afar he’d looked big, but her dream guy was over six feet for sure, probably closer to six four, big feet in big boots, faded jeans, and one of those plaid quilted jackets she’d seen a lot of the men around here wear when the weather was cold but not downright frigid. His arms were crossed, and the stance accentuated the muscles in his arms and shoulders. His hair was thick and dark, highlighting a face that sported a stunning set of brown eyes with long lashes, a strong jaw, and good cheekbones.

“I’m Charlene,” she offered, only stammering a little, holding the doll in one arm and extending her other hand. “Charlie, actually.”

***

The It Must Be Christmas anthology may be purchased from these retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. The novella, “Christmas at Seaside Cottage”, is also available individually through these retailers: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

***

About Donna

While bestselling author Donna Alward was busy studying Austen, Eliot and Shakespeare, she was also losing herself in the breathtaking stories created by romance novelists like LaVyrle Spencer, Judith McNaught and Nora Roberts. Several years after completing her degree she decided to write a romance of her own and it was true love! Five years and ten manuscripts later she sold her first book and launched a new career. While her heartwarming stories of love, hope, and homecoming have been translated into several languages, hit bestseller lists and won awards, her very favorite thing is when she hears from happy readers.

Donna lives on Canada’s east coast with her family which includes a husband, a couple of kids, a senior dog and two crazy cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading (of course!), knitting, gardening, cooking…and is a Masterpiece Theater addict. You can connect with her through her website, www.DonnaAlward.com, or on Facebook or Twitter. Join her mailing list here.

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Author Speed Dating – Tara Taylor Quinn

February 28, 2017November 30, 2016 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

This week’s guest: Tara Taylor Quinn

Tara_headshot

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

15 Questions

1. If you were a My Little Pony character, what image would be tatooed on your butt?

A heart.

2. What was genre of the first piece you can remember writing, and how old were you when you penned this masterpiece?

I was six. I still have it! It was published in a little school publication. I’d written about a monster breaking into our house and my mom and I told my dad to go back to bed. We’d take care of it. As an adult I can only imagine how that made my father feel!

3. Since all of November authors are Americans, name some dishes that are must-haves for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Scalloped corn – my recipe. Dressing. Waldorf Salad.

4. If you could write a novel containing any generally “off-limits” element, what would we find in your story?

Wow – you’ve stumped me on this one. I have written everything from prostitution to white supremacy. I’m known for tackling tough subjects and I can’t think of any I’ve needed to write about that I haven’t done.

5. Project Runway or Designated Survivor?

No clue. I’m not familiar with either! The only television I watch is Netflix. TV ads make me nuts.

6. Is social media a bad habit for you, and, if so, what is your favorite time drain?

Social media is a job for me. My current favorite time drain is Toy Blast – it’s a game similar to Candy Crush, but I like it much better! I don’t play it on the computer though. Don’t even download it. Computer is for work!

7. With no money limit, if you could construct the most perfect writing space, what would it look like?

It would have a wall of windows looking out over my beautiful Arizona mountains and into the city. I’d have a wall of bookcases behind me. A bathroom off the far corner, lush carpet for my fur babies, a doggy door, a couch beneath the windows and tables with all of my feel goods. To my left would be a wall for my bulletin boards. It would have a privately keyed door and have a perfect surround sound system with Bose speakers. There would be a door to a waterfall garden just outside.

8. Sushi or pepperoni pizza with extra cheese?

Neither! My pizza would have ham, tomato, and onions.

9. What book are you reading right now, and what is the best book you’ve read in a long time?

The only book I’m reading right now is the one I’m working on. With seven books out this year, I don’t have time for pleasure reading. I don’t want to risk incorporating another ‘voice’ or ‘feel’ into my own writing.

10. How many full and partial manuscripts remain in your never-published collection?

I have no idea! Sort of none. I’m sure I have partials that didn’t become books (I can think of one off the top of my head) but I re-worked the idea and it became a book. I’ve been published, non-stop for twenty-four years so we’re talking a long time ago. I’d have to go out in the shed and open boxes to properly answer this question!

11. Bob Dylan or Dylan Thomas?

I don’t know Dylan Thomas, but I am not a Bob Dylan fan! I know, so horrible, especially considering that he just won the Nobel Peace prize. I am a ‘tune’ woman, and in my opinion he doesn’t carry one. I also couldn’t stand his ‘Lay Lady Lay.’ I thought it was degrading to women. But then, I was a kid listening to the song coming from my older brother’s room when I formed that opinion!

12. Name your favorite hero or heroine from one of your books, and share what made that character special.

Oh my word. This is just hard. I have 80 books! How do you choose? I think I can’t. I think of one and then think of another and feel disloyal to both of them. They’re all so unique and I care for them all. Deeply. So…there’s your answer. Sorry! If I had to recommend a series, I’d recommend Where Secrets Are Safe. Partially because I’m writing a book from that series right now. But I think it’s maybe my best work to date. It’s critically acclaimed and I think it has done more than any of my other books to help women find hope and believe that happiness exists.

13. Who was the first person – besides your mom and dad – who told you that you could write?

Me! I didn’t ask anyone. I just knew I was a writer. I told my Mom I was a writer before she told me I could write. I’ve been telling myself stories since I was just a little kid and was keeping journals, with prose and poetry before I was in high school.

14. Dogs or cats? Pedigree or mutts?

Both. I have a very prissy, registered and show quality prima donna teacup poodle and a rescue cocker/poodle mix who are very close to each other and are my best friends. Literally. We spend all of our days alone together. We each bring something to the mix and I hope we’re all three blessed by it! I know I am.

15. What is your favorite point while you are writing a new story?

When I slip so deeply in that I become a part of that life and I don’t want to leave.

***

Her Soldier’s Baby

By Tara Taylor Quinn

Some nights he woke up in a cold sweat and still couldn’t believe that Eliza Maxwell was his wife. He’d lie there, touching her shoulder, looking at her sometimes for more than an hour, to avoid going back to sleep. When he slept, she was, like the rest of his few good childhood memories, completely out of reach.

***

Her Soldier’s Baby may be purchased through these online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google, Harlequin and iTunes.

***

About Tara

Having written over eighty novels, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA TODAY bestselling author with more than seven million copies sold. She is known for delivering intense, emotional fiction. Tara is a past president of Romance Writers of America. She has won a Readers’ Choice Award and is a five-time finalist for an RWA RITA^® Award, a finalist for a Reviewers’ Choice Award and a Booksellers’ Best Award. She has also appeared on TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning. She supports the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.

Stay in touch with Tara through her website, www.tarataylorquinn.com, or through these social media channels: Facebook, GoodReads, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or on her Pinterest Friendship board.

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Author Speed Dating – Diane Burton

November 23, 2016 by Dana Nussio

Author Speed Dating(1)

I love discovering new authors, so I wanted to my blog to be a place where readers and my author pals could come together. Only we like to do this Speed-Dating style. Check out a new author and her work here every Wednesday, and if the spark is there, you’ll have a match.

This week’s guest: Diane Burton

Diane Burton pic

15 Questions

1. If you were a My Little Pony character, what image would be tattooed on your butt?

A shooting star, because I love sci-fi.

2. What was genre of the first piece you can remember writing, and how old were you when you penned this masterpiece?

A romance based on the TV show “77 Sunset Strip”; I was maybe 15. My girlfriend and I wrote and shared with each other only fan fiction. Only thing was we didn’t know that’s what it was called. LOL

3. Since all of November authors are Americans, name some dishes that are must-haves for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Sage dressing (cooked both in and out of the turkey), candied sweet potatoes (even though I’m the only one who likes them), pumpkin pie.

4. If you could write a novel containing any generally “off-limits” element, what would we find in your story?

I don’t do “off limits.” One of my sci-fi romances has an older woman/younger man romance. That’s about as risqué as I get. LOL

5. Project Runway or Designated Survivor?

Neither. The only reality show I watch is “Dancing With The Stars.”

6. Is social media a bad habit for you, and, if so, what is your favorite time drain?

Oh, yeah. Facebook and Triberr (because I stop and read the interesting blogs).

7. With no spending limit, if you could construct the most perfect writing space, what would it look like?

Big windows overlooking Lake Michigan; lots of shelves; a comfy recliner and my laptop; a Keurig coffee maker.

8. Sushi or pepperoni pizza with extra cheese?

My grandchildren (6½ & 9) took me out for sushi this summer. The 6 yo kept saying “try this, Nana, it’s great.” I’m glad I tried everything. I’d rather have pizza.

9. What book are you reading right now, and what is the best book you’ve read in a long time?

Just finished Pets In Space, an anthology of sci-fi romance short stories featuring pets. I have so many favorite books. I used to say Rebecca, but now I think The Hunger Games trilogy is the best I’ve read in a long time. Such powerful messages and a darn good story. Where were books like that when I was in high school?

10. How many full and partial manuscripts remain in your never-published collection?

Geez, I’m not sure. I’ve been writing for 20+ years and accumulated a LOT of rejections. I probably won’t resurrect them—too out of date. I consider them practice writing.

11. Bob Dylan or Dylan Thomas?

Neither. Bob Dylan’s okay, but I’m a Beach Boys girl.

12. Name your favorite hero or heroine from one of your books, and share what made that character special.

Celara from The Pilot, the first Outer Rim novel. She’s a red-head, little, feisty, mouthy, and doesn’t put up with anything from anybody. I wish I was more like her.

13. Who was the first person – besides your mom and dad – who told you that you could write?

I don’t know. Certainly, not any of my teachers. My dad died before I became published. My mom was very proud of my first book. She passed away before any of the others were published. My husband is my biggest supporter. He doesn’t read fiction but reads my books. When I wanted to give up, he encouraged me the most.

14. Dogs or cats? Pedigree or mutts?

Dogs. Mutts.

15. What is your favorite point while you are writing a new story?

The beginning. Everything is new, unless the MC was a secondary in a previous story. Love the rush of getting the words down and discovering more about the heroine and hero.

***

The Pilot

By Diane Burton

Celara pushed her chair away from the table and climbed up on it. “Quiet down, you Rimmer scum.”

The patrons laughed then quieted.

She lifted her drink. “A toast, Rimmers. Let’s hear it for the wonderful, fantabulous, Administrator Jovano. May he live long enough to enjoy good health.”

To her surprise, silence met her toast. No one raised their glasses or mugs, even in jest. Everyone was looking at her, standing on the chair. No, they were looking past her. Only thing behind her was the door. Booted footsteps rapped on the rough-hewn plank floor then stopped behind her.

“Thank you for the compliments and the good wishes for my longevity.” The baritone-and-chokiris voice sounded just over her shoulder.

If she ever needed a personal cloaking device, it was now. Or a magic ring with which to disappear. Sector Admin Trevarr Jovano stood behind her. Waiting. She swore she could feel him breathing.

Undaunted, she turned around. As the room tipped, she reached for the back of the chair. “Whoa, those mudslides sneak up on you.”

Missing the chair, she grabbed the closest thing—Trevarr Jovano’s black-clad shoulders. Beneath her fingers, the strong muscles contracted. “Hey there, Admin Man. Heard my toast, did you?” She grinned down at him.

He wasn’t smiling. “You should sit down before you fall down. Or better yet, go home and sleep it off.”

A dark fury swept away the sweet tranquility of two tall Kruferian mudslides. “I can’t go home, you snake. You stole my home.”

She swung a round-house punch at him, missed her objective and would have fallen ignominiously off the chair had he not caught her. For several long secs, he held her tightly against his chest, her feet dangling off the floor a good twenty-five centimeters. His green eyes caught hers and darkened.

The heat in the room rose ten degrees. Her heart tripped, the air leached out of her lungs. His eyes. She could drown in those green depths.

***

The Pilot is available from these online retailers: Amazon, B&N, Kobo, iBooks, ARe and Smashwords.

***

A Note from Diane

The Pilot’s book birthday is this week. I love the concept of science fiction romances featuring strong women on the Outer Rim, the frontier of space. Currently, there are three books in the series. Each is a standalone, even though some characters from previous books can reappear. There are three books in the Outer Rim series and will be one more before I take off on another adventure in a different world.

***

About Diane

Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides the science fiction romance Switched and the Outer Rim series, she is the author of One Red Shoe, a romantic suspense, and the Alex O’Hara PI mystery series. She is also a contributor to two anthologies: Portals, Volume 2 and How I Met My Husband. Diane and her husband live in West Michigan. They have two children and three grandchildren.

For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com. Connect with her on social media through her blog or on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and Pinterest. Sign up for Diane’s new release alert here.

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